Migratory birds use different areas of North America to stop along their path of migration from north to south. Many birds travel the same paths each year and use landmarks to identify areas where they stopped previously. As the human population expands and more natural habitats are replaced by developed areas, the migratory birds have a difficult time finding safe, inhabitable areas. This lesson ... Full description.

This interactive, animated graphic helps explain the water cycle to younger students. The animation, with sound, explains the various parts of the water cycle and show how water moves from one part to another. Full description.

This lesson will help students to distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy, investigate a variety of renewable energy resources and compare the benefits and drawbacks of each. Students will use internet resources to investigate and compare alternative sources of energy. It is presumed that students have some basic prior understanding of the concept of energy. Full description.

This basic information about groundwater describes how it is used, how it gets into the ground (infiltration), and how it is able to move underground. The site describes the saturated zone and the top of this zone, which is called the water table. An aquifer is described, along with the role of groundwater in the water cycle. There is a section about groundwater contamination and a section that suggests ... Full description.

Younger students can access information that will help them become more concerned about water conservation. After an introduction explaining the world-wide water problem, there is a chart that gives seven water conservation tips, one for each day of the week. Tips include such items as keeping a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, turning the water off when brushing teeth, and checking for leaks ... Full description.

This activity will help students to recognize that there is a lot of water in the world, but that not very much of it can be used for our drinking water and other water supply needs. They will see that ground water is a very small percentage of the Earth's water, and understand how important it is that we take care of our ground water. Full description.

This activity illustrates how water is stored in an aquifer, how groundwater can become contaminated, and how this contamination ends up in the drinking water well. They will also realize that many communities obtain their drinking water from underground sources called aquifers and that water suppliers or utility officials drill wells through soil and rock into aquifers to supply the public with drinking ... Full description.

This activity will help students to understand and explain where drinking water comes from and where wastewater goes once it leaves the home, as well as how the water we use fits into the water cycle. It is based on a story that describes the journey of a water drop from the well to the septic leaching field of a rural system. In a conversation with a little girl, the drop also describes a journey ... Full description.

This activity will help students to identify ways in which water is used, determine how much water families use each day, recognize the importance of conserving water, and determine ways in which water can be conserved. The activity revolves around a simulated mystery in which the number of renters living in an apartment is determined by water usage. It is designed to lead students to recognize their ... Full description.

This demonstration is designed to demonstrate the procedures that municipal water plants use to purify water for drinking. Students will discover that water treatment plants typically clean water by taking it through the processes of aeration, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. They also learn that water in lakes, rivers, and swamps often contains impurities that make it look ... Full description.